The Brookstone Bay gelding keeps his streak alive on Saturday.

Sent to post as the 7-10 favorite in a full field of 10, Patrick Richardson's Stone Cold Leader won Saturday's QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Futurity. PHOTO: Linscott Photography

Patrick Richardson's Stone Cold Leader extended his winning streak to five with a head victory in Saturday's $176,578 Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana Stallion Service Auction Futurity (R) at Indiana Grand.

Under jockey Rolando Pina, who rode the brown son of Brookstone Bay for trainer Erin Thompson, Stone Cold Leader went 350 yards in :17.951. In addition to posting an 87 speed index, the gelding banked the $68,866 winner's share of the purse from his second career stakes score.

Stone Cold Leader accomplished his fifth win in six outs despite a less-than-perfect start. He was in tight quarters coming out of the gate, but as the field got closer to the finish line, the gelding regained his momentum and sprinted to the wire.

Stone Cold Leader was bred in Indiana by Mark Michel. A resident of South Carolina, Richardson is a forklift driver for NuCor Steel Berkley and is fairly new to racing. He had one horse prior to Stone Cold Leader and attended the QHRAI Speed Sale last fall, hoping to purchase another yearling. When that didn't work out, he purchased Stone Cold Leader for $10,500.

Richardson's buy has more than paid off, as Stone Cold Leader has earned $187,496. Richardson is always accompanied by many family and friends, who make the 11-hour drive up from South Carolina to watch Stone Cold Leader run.

“He (Stone Cold Leader) is a pretty cool cucumber behind the gate,” said Thompson. “Rolando always handles him so well, but the horse about gave us a heart attack tonight. He got pushed around a lot and still fought back. It was a great finish.”

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA Racing on Twitter, "like" Q-Racing on Facebook, and visitwww.aqha.com/racing.

About the Association

The American Quarter Horse Association, located in Amarillo, Texas, is the world’s largest equine breed registry and membership organization.

AQHA members share a passion for the American Quarter Horse and the vast lifestyle created by the world’s most popular horse.

Whether you’re a seasoned horse show veteran, a fan of the race track, a backyard horse enthusiast or simply someone dreaming of someday owning a horse, AQHA membership will benefit you in countless ways.